CCH backs Raise Illinois push to increase minimum wage

CCH and others in the Raise Illinois coalition spoke at Pilsen’s St. Pius V church in support of a higher state minimum wage, where they received some high-profile support from Gov. Pat Quinn and activist actor Martin Sheen. Read More.

CCH survey shows more than half of Illinois homeless students lack needed school services

CCH has released findings from a statewide survey of public school districts across Illinois: More than half of homeless students in Illinois must cope without needed tutoring, preschool or school counseling.

CCH is advocating that the state restore $3 million of funding for homeless education grants to Illinois schools.

An Illinois record 54,892 homeless students, preschool through 12th grade, were identified by public schools last year (2012-13), per updated figures from the Illinois State Board of Education.

Law Project Director Laurene Heybach and the homeless liaison for Kane County schools, Deb Dempsey, talked about the findings on WBEZ (91.5 FM) “Afternoon Shift.”

Senate President Cullerton joins CCH/DePaul panel

CCH community leaders at DePaul University hosted a March 10 public panel on homelessness. Our Speakers Bureau team at DePaul worked for several weeks to set up the event, which drew 68 students and community leaders.

The panel was made up of three speakers: Illinois Senate President John Cullerton (right) was joined by Ashley Allen (left), a CCH Speakers Bureau member who experienced homelessness while growing up, and by Tim Hooper, Jr. (middle), a Chicago Public Schools (CPS) high school student who’s experienced homelessness most of his life. Read More.